Haqqani network commander, two others killed in US strike

Islamabad, Jan 24: A Haqqani network commander and two of his companions were killed in a US drone strike in Pakistan's North Waziristan tribal region on Wednesday, a media report said.

The pilotless spy aircraft fired two missiles on a house in Speen Thal Dapa Mamozai area in Orazkai agency that lies close to the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, Dawn online reported.

Local sources told the daily that the strike was carried out on a Haqqani network hideout. A police officer confirmed the death of Haqqani network commander Ehsan alias Khawari along with his two associates.

The residents were quoted as saying that the spy aircraft kept on hovering very low at the airspace of Orazkai and its neighbouring areas including the tribal region of Kurram and Hangu district before launching the strike.

The early morning drone sortie caused panic among residents.

This is the second drone attack in Pakistan's tribal areas this year. A January 17 strike left one man severely wounded in Kurram agency's Badshah Kot area.

Drone strikes have surged in Kurram in the wake of US President Donald Trump's announcement of a new Afghan policy last year in which Pakistan was accused of offering "safe havens to agents of chaos".